Australia must not profit from human suffering
WHAT IS THE RED lines PACKAGE?
The Red Lines Package is a set of four laws written by legal experts. If enacted, it will ensure Australia does not arm, fund, or invest in genocide, war crimes, or illegal settlements — anywhere in the world.
We call on the parliament to review and pass the bills.
Australia has a legal duty under international law to help prevent genocide and not be involved in crimes against humanity.
Right now, our laws don’t do enough to stop Australia being linked to these crimes through arms sales, embedded personnel, trillion-dollar investments, imports, charity work, or institutional partnerships.
The Red Lines Package would fix these gaps, protecting not only our people, institutions and standing, but also protecting lives.
Learn more
The Red Lines Package is a group of four connected laws designed to stop Australia from being involved in genocide, war crimes, or illegal occupation.
The bills include:
Defence Trade Controls Am (War Crimes, Crimes against Humanity and Genocide) Bill 2026
Defence Trade Controls Amendment Bill
Purpose
To prevent Australia from enabling genocide or war crimes through defence exports.
Key Features
- • Prohibits defence exports where there is a risk of genocide, war crimes, or crimes against humanity
- • Minister must not issue permits if such a risk is present
- • Requires a public register of permits and key decisions
- • Requires end-use certificates
- • Criminal and civil penalties for non-compliance – including for government officials
- • Related amendments to the Customs Act to strengthen enforcement
Legislative Impact
This bill closes critical gaps in Australia's defence export controls, ensuring compliance with international law obligations under the Genocide Convention and Geneva Conventions.
Treasury Laws Amendment (Divesting From Illegal Investments) Bill 2026
Divesting From Illegal Investments Bill
Purpose
To prevent public funds from supporting illegal settlement activity and genocide risk.
Key Features
- • Prohibits Future Fund, superannuation entities and charities from funding or investing in companies complicit in illegal settlements
- • Bans resources going into illegal settlement activity
- • Prohibits resources going into entities engaging in practices that may contribute to genocide
- • Requires immediate divestment from such investments once identified
Financial Impact
Ensures Australian public funds and charitable donations do not inadvertently finance violations of international law.
Genocide Reporting, Prevention, and Restitution Bill 2026
Genocide Reporting & Prevention Bill
Purpose
To ensure Australian institutions do not contribute to or benefit from genocide through greater transparency.
Key Features
- • Annual Genocide Statements required from Commonwealth entities, large businesses, defence businesses, universities, and the Future Fund
- • Broader scope than the Modern Slavery Act: covers entire value chain, not just supply chain
- • Establishes Anti-Genocide Commissioner
- • Positive duties on senior managers to prevent genocide risks
- • Prohibition on complicity in any practices that may contribute to genocide
- • Includes criminal penalties, civil remedies, and judicial review rights
Compliance Framework
Creates Australia's first comprehensive genocide prevention framework, moving beyond reactive measures to proactive duty.
Occupied Territories Goods and Services (Import Prohibition) Bill 2026
Occupied Territories Goods and Services (Import Prohibition) Bill
Purpose
To prohibit the importation and trade of goods and services originating from occupied territories and to ensure Australia complies with its obligations under international law, including the duty of non-recognition of unlawful territorial acquisition.
Key Features
- • Criminalises importing, selling, or assisting trade in settlement goods
- • Prohibits acquisition or provision of services linked to illegal settlements
- • Bans extraction of natural resources from occupied territories
- • Applies to Australian citizens, residents, corporations, and entities controlled in Australia
- • Establishes offences, penalties, reporting duties, and enforcement mechanisms
Human Rights Framework
The Bill gives domestic effect to Australia's obligations under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights by preventing economic activity that contributes to unlawful occupation, settlement expansion, and resource exploitation.
Legal Foundation
The Act relies on the external affairs power of the Australian Constitution to implement international humanitarian law, including the Fourth Geneva Convention, Hague Regulations, and relevant international court and UN determinations regarding occupied territories.
Regulation & Enforcement
Enforcement is coordinated through relevant Commonwealth bodies, including border authorities, sanctions regulators, and federal law enforcement. The Act operates extraterritorially, ensuring accountability for Australian-linked conduct occurring overseas.
Accountability Measures
Establishes criminal and civil penalties for individuals and corporations, provides injunction powers, mandates reporting obligations, and requires an independent statutory review five years after commencement.
It is time to draw Red lines in our law
To actually fix problems, we need clear ideas and plans to talk about.
The Red Lines Package does this by putting forward new laws that tackle the main causes of the problem and highlight the role of governments, companies, and big institutions that have the power and responsibility to make things better.
By introducing these laws into Parliament and enabling formal inquiries, we can spark a deeper national conversation about what Australia can —and should—do.n review these bills if they go to inquiries in pariament, sparking important conversations.
he public can review these bills if they go to inquiries in parliament, sparking important conversations.
WHY THIS MATTERS
Passing this package will have immediate impact, stopping Australian arms exports and investments from profiting from human suffering.
The Red Lines Package is groundbreaking in many ways and has the power to heal societal divisions. It sends a clear message:
Australia will act in line with the values it says it believes in.
Our red lines are activated by evidence according to standards.
No matter who the victims or perpetrators are, our country will not enable the crimes.
Australia will not be involved in crimes overseas that cause deep suffering at home.
Public money will only be used for the public good and managed in a way that is open, honest, and responsible.
Our governments will be answerable for how they use public money and resources.
When something wrong happens, there will be real consequences for institutions and government.